Oil seal



R.' w. CHANDLER OIL SEAL Filed Aug. 16, 1952 24 Y v ao 2 1FL Patented Apr. 25, i933 ROBERT W. CHANDLER, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, KNIGHT COMPANY, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CHUSETTS ,f

ASSIGNOR TO GRATO'N' CORPORATION 0F MASSA- oIL SEAL Application med August 1e, i932. serial No. 628,995.

The present invention relates to and more particularly to self-contained ar,- ticles of this character which are designed for insertion as an assembled unit in encompassing relation to a rotating shaft or ,the like along which oil or grease seepage normally takes place.

The purpose and object of tvhe present 1nvention is to provide a stron and Substantial seal of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which in its dimensions may be held to relatively close tolerances for accurate fitting Within the cooperating parts of a machine such as a motor vehicle. i

With this and other objects in view, the various features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing illustratmg the preferred form ofthe invention, Fig. 1 represents an elevation artly in section of the improved seal ring; ig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, illustrating the ring assembled within a typical housing and shaft assembly; and Fig. 3 is a section in elevation of the shell before assembly, with the flexible packing and sustaining Spring.

The ring shown inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises essentially a one-piece housing which is drawn and spun by successive operations into the final desired shape, a circular packing of leather or the like which is immovably clamped within the housing, and a retaining spring held within .the housing in engagement with the packing to maintain a portion of the latter in Sealing engagement -with a shaft passing through the housing.

As indicated more' articularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the lousing is completely closed about the outer periphery and 1s provided with a central aperture somewhat larger than the shaft passing therethrough to afford free passage for the shaft. Clamped within the housing is a circular oil seals,

leather packing having an inner axial portion adapted for engagement with the shaft, and an offset portion rigidly clamped Within the housing not only to hold the packing but to seal against leakage of oil and grease between the packing and housing. Assembled vwithin the housing and bearing upon the axially extended portion of the packing is a coiled circular spring of the type familiarly known asa arter spring, intended to produce a yielding engagement between the axial portion of the packing and the shaft. The outer portion of the housing is generally circular, and is held to reasonably close tolerances to accurately lit within the shaft housing or similar complementary part.

According to the present invention, I first form the housing as a drawn shell 10 of steel or the like, having a generall cylindrical portion 12 with an inturned ange 14 provided with a re-entrant portion 16 to form a space for the reception of the packing ring generally circumferential in shape. The flange terminates in a generally radial and inset flange 18, providing a central o enin measurably larger than the shaft whlch the seal encompasses. Cooperating with the housing is a circular packing 20, preferably of leather, which has an inner generally axial portion 22 for sealing engagement with the shaft, and an offset and larger but generally axial portion 24 for reception within the circumferential space in the housin The two portions of the packing, namely t e clamping and sealing portions, are connected by an inclined wall to avoid the formation of sharp orV abrupt shoulders in the packing, and offset the reduced portion of the packing in an axial direction from the larger clamping portion. The sealing portion by a circular coil spring 26, whic constricts the packing and maintains it in yielding engagement with the shaft, the spring being maintained in assembled relation to the pack ing by the inturned flange 28 formed at the end of the housing opposite the flange 14.

In actual practice, the shell 10is formed substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter the packing and spring are assembled there-` of the packin is engaged with, with the sealing portion 24 of the packing extending into the circumferential space. The shell is then subjected to a drawing operation at the open end 30 for the purpose of turning in the flange 28 to approximately the shape shown in Fig. 2, and simultaneously the re-'entrant portion 16 is forced outwardly into the inclined position shown at 32 to rigidly clamp the portion 24 of the packing in place and throw the iiange 18 inwardly to support the wall of the.- packing in the manner generally shown in Fig. 2. The two operations may be performed at oppos' te ends of the housing virtually simultaneously, or as successive operations. In either event, the completed seal is accurate as to dimensions,frigid as to construction, and economi- A cal to manufacture. Furthermore, by shaping the packing in cross-section in the general form indicated, the grain face of the packing 'may be employed for l sealing engagement with the shaft, and the body of the packing is not weakened in any way due to its formation,

as might otherwise be the case if the packing were' formed with abrupt or sharp shouldered portions.

Instead of forcing the re-entrant portion 16 of the shell outwardly for the purpose of clamping the circular packing in position, 39 this may he accomplished by forcing separated sections of the flange outwardly to clamp theoifset portion of the packing in position. v

What is claimed is:

. 1. As an article of manufacture, a selfcontained seal forginsertion as an assembled unit within a housing in encompassing relation to a centrall located shaft, 'comprising a generally cylin rical housing having an in- 40 wardly'formed and generally radial flange at one end and an inturned flange at the opposite end having a re-entrant portion to provide spaced concentric walls forming between them a circumferential space, the two iiangesl providing circular apertures of lgreater diameter than the shaft passing therethrough, a flexible packing of sheet material having a reduced axially extending ortion adapted to encompassF with the shaft, an outer and axial tending clamping portion offset radial from the inner clamped within the circumferential space, and a circular spring engaging with the reduced axial portion of the packing and maintained in assembled relation therewith by the housing for maintaining the packing in yielding engagement with the shaft.

. 2. As an article ofv manufacture, a selfcontained seal for insertion as an assem le unit within a housing in encompassing relation to a centrally located shaft, comprising a one-piece housing portion of generally circular conformationhaving an inwardly ex- 'w65 tended and generallyradial ange at one end `ferential clamping sp and an inturned and axially tion at theoppos' te end to provide a circumace within the wall of the housing, a exible circular packngof sheet material having an axially extending ortion to encompass and engage with'the shaft passing therethrough, and an 'axial clamping portion` larger than the shaft-engaging portion and sealed within the clamping space between the walls of the housing, and resilient means for yieldably engaging the axially extending portion of the packing to cause the latter to engage and seal t e shaft passing therethrough.

3. Asl an article of. manufacture, a selfcontained seal for insertion as an assem unit within a housing in encompassing relation to a centrally located shaft, comprising a one-piece cylindrical housing portion having an inwardly extending radial flange at one end an'd an axially lextending portion turned inwardly from the opposite end of the housing to provide a circumferential clamping space within the wall of the housing,v a flexible circular vpacking of sheet materia having an axially extending sealing portion to encompass and engage with the shaft passing therethrough, and an axial clamping portion of larger diameter received within and clamped between the two spaced walls of the housing, and a spring located within the housing andyieldably engaging with the axially extending portion of cause the latter to engage and seal the shaft passing therethrough.

4:. As an article contained seal for insertion as an assemb e unit within a housing in encompassing relation to a centrally located shaft, comprising a one-piece cylindrical housing portion aving an inwardly extending radial flange at an axially extending portioi clamping space within ing, a flexible circular packing of sheet material having an axially extending sealing por-l tion to encompass and engage with the shaft passing therethrough, and an axial clamping portion of larger and clamped between the two spaced walls of the housing, the packing being of generally S-shaped section, and a spring ocated within the housing and yieldably engaging i extending portion o the latter to 'engage and seal the shaft passing' therethrough.

In testimony whereof I have signed name to this specification.

' ROBERT W. CHANDLER.

with the axially packing to cause diameter received within extending porthe packing to of manufactura a selfy,

Ais 

